My brother was feeling extremely unwell and had low blood pressure one day during Ramadan. Concerned that he might faint, I advised him to break his fast and to take his medication, because I had previously experienced a similar condition myself. He followed my advice and broke his fast that day. Kindly clarify the ruling in this situation.

There is no objection to advising an ill person for whom fasting causes hardship to break their fast, provided that the illness is one for which Islamic law grants a dispensation to break the fast. Such advice falls within the scope of cooperation in righteousness and piety, as well as the obligation of sincere counsel for the sake of Allah and His Messenger. Allah Almighty says, “Cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression” (Quran, 5:2).

 

The dispensation for an ill person to refrain from fasting during Ramadan

Fasting Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam and a firmly established religious obligation which an accountable person may not neglect except for a valid excuse. Allah Almighty has made fasting obligatory upon every accountable person, subject to several conditions that must be fulfilled. Allah Almighty says, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous” (Quran, 2:183) and “So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days” (Quran, 2:185).

It is permissible for a person who is accountable under Islamic law and is unable to fast for a valid reason recognized by Islamic law to refrain from fasting, especially if medical experts determine that continuing with the fast may harm their health or delay recovery.

 

Advising an ill person to break their fast

The concession granted to an ill person to break their fast is based on the verse, “So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with extreme hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]” (Quran, 2:184). Ibn Qudamah cited the scholarly consensus on this matter stating, “The scholars unanimously agree that it is generally permissible for an ill person to break the fast.” [1]  The scholars of the four major schools of jurisprudence have consistently affirmed this principle in their writings.[2]  This demonstrates that advising an ill person to refrain from fasting does not incur any sin upon the advisor, provided that the ill person qualifies for the concession granted by Islamic law to break the fast. This is especially so because such advice falls under the principle of cooperating in righteousness and piety as enjoined by Islamic law.

 

And Allah Almighty knows best.